Smyrna times., 1887-04-27
For the SnyIna Times.
Miss Mary Patterson's Life,

heaVy load of sin was removed. and
she entered into the endowment of n
pardOned soul. In accordance with
the preaching the church she atten-
oed, she saw it was her duty to avoid
dancing parties, and all sinful amuse.
ments, and to wear plain apparel
which strictly adhered to the balance
OF her prOtracted life. One Other early
friends who had been absent for wears
ana moved in an aristOcratic circle in
| foreign land, said to aer on her return
10 % her native village, Mary, your in
difference to dress has been a reproof
to me all my life."
! The first recollection I have of nv
sisters active usefulness i'm the village
was when l was a child. In 1917 there
were number of children in this place.
whose parents were not able to educate
Ihem. At this period the Friends and
MethOdists were the predominant sects
IN Smyrna. Perhaps a few of other
denominations were united with them
IN the education of the poor. They
agreed that two of their number should
teach week at time. | do not know
VINO was coupled with my sister Mary,
put Miss Ann Waitman (nOw widow
0pruance) on Commerce St. taught
with my sister Ann. This was contin-
ued for some time; at length thev
raised money sufficient to employ
teacher. Miss Mary Smith, member
OF the Society of Friends took the
school in hand, and continued it until
the free schools, which broke up the
Charity School.
In 1920 the ladies of the different de-
nominations again united to found a
Sunday school. The different sects
represented were Methodist, Presbvte-
rams and some that had been raised
Friends, but had joined the Methodist
church. Of the eight ladies who insti
tuted the Sunday school nv sister
Mary was the last survivor. In those
Gays OF discOrd among the ministers of
different denominations, who used to
hOId up the doctrines and peculiarities
OF each other with contempt, it is re
markable that women should have
Deen more than sixty years in advance
OF the times. They inquired not into
the belief of each other, but worked
harmOnlously together, obeying the
precepts of the Gospel.
The next good work / see her en-
gagged IN was with other women in Der
ambulating the streets in mid winter
in search of those that were charitablv
disposed, to ask them to contribute
theIr mite to alleviate the condition of
Vhe poor. Their place of meeting was
at the house of Robert Patterson. l
might add that in these primitive times
they had neither fairs nor festivals to
AID them in procuring means for anv
good work they undertook. Their
physical strength was taxed to the
utmost by their long walks during the
lnciement weather, yet the necessaries
OF lire were obtained, the poor were re-
heved, and Gods commands were
\ Obeyed.
Again, the women of the Methodist
Church united, old and young. to teach
the cOlOred people. They met for this
purpose in the Friends meeting house
on Sunday afternoons. My siste. was
one of them.
In 1881 the great effort for the pro-
motion OF temperance began. In this
work the men were the great leaders.
PREACHERS, lawyers, judges and prom
lnent laymen took the stand and advo-
Gated temperance. The meetings were
largely attended and prominent speak
] ers interested the audiences. Thev
admitted female membership and col
ored people. The place of meeting
was IN the old Methodist Church. The
wonderful success of the temDerance
movement from 1888 to 1888 in our
village and surrounding country has
not been equalled since. This sparseIv
populated country contributed about
eieVen hundred members And SO
earnest were they in the good cause
ana SO persistent, that it eliminated in
Ihe Maine law III about twenty wears
from It's origin. My sister with other
women took very active part to OBJ
tam slgners to the petition to the Leg
lslature to enact laws for its success.
However unpleasant such duties are.
they took up the cross and went from
mousse to house, and success crowned
their efforts.
The women engaged with my sister
I'D the various plans of usefulness were
not always the same. Many of them
were migratory citizens, while she was
permanently located on one SQUARE in
Main street for more than eighty wears. |
her busy life was natural to her. as
1t exhibited itself in early life bv her
taste or intellectual discernment or
fellsh Tor the works Of nature or art. as /
worcester puts it, Her beautiful |
needle work on null and muslin and |
embroidery on satin was not e0ualled /
here IN her early days. She was born
an artist, and had her youth been
spent IN period similar to the last |
twenty-five years in which the educa- |
ton OF women is of higher grade, she |
might have pursued a calling that is .
Is not only hOnOred, but exceedingly .
renumerative. Instead of that it was
only an envied accomplishment that
few could attain.
Her memory was the most retentiye
OF any one that was acquainted with.
She could give day and date for almost
every thing that occurred in this com
munity worth remembering. Her con-
versatiOnal talent was much admired
as 1t was interspersed with intelligence,
wit and vivacity.
For several years past her weight
diminished without sickness. her eve
sight became dim without apparent
disease, which deprived her of one of
the greatest pleasures of her existence
which was the reading of good books.
]
which is one Ofthe cOncomitants of age,
but her industrious habits were left and
her religious aspirations increased.
In February she lost the use of her
feet and could not walk, which was an
admOnishment of the near approach of
death. She often spoke of the many
precious scriptural promises brought to
her recollection for her encouragement.
Sometimes she rejoiced, expressing
thanks for her religious surroundings.
On the day before her decease she was
in happy frame of mind, and l sug-
gested that we should send for a
preacher to administer the Sacrament.
She readily consented, but before we
could obtain one, the Lord called her
away. For reasons satisfactory to nv
mind believe there were ministering
spirits in the room, sent to convey her
to the Heavenly Home.
S. p. MASON.
april 21st, 1887.